Kirkus Review

Magic and mayhem collide when the owner of a Connecticut crystal shop is arrested for murder and her ghostly mother comes to her rescue. Though her store is strictly about healing and feeling, not everyone is a fan of Violet Mooney's Full Moon crystal shop, as she learns when town official Carla Fernandez yells at her about some supposed séance one morning when Violet's just trying to caffeinate. Carla's aura is a bright blue that some might see as evincing creativity but Violet is seasoned enough to know speaks of Carla's strong opinions, which Carla seems more than willing to speak of herself. Before Violet can fret too much about the fallout from Carla's verbal firestorm, she's being asked by North Harbor police about Carla's murder. But wait, Carla's been killed? It seems so, and when the police bring in Violet--whose alibi is that she was napping--as a likely suspect, an unlikely ally comes to Violet's aid: her mother, Fiona Ravenstar. Accompanied by Violet's teenage sister, Zoe, Fiona ducks out of her responsibilities in the astral realm to help the daughter she hasn't seen since she was 5. Literally hasn't seen, because Violet's recently deceased grandmother, Abigail Moonstone, evidently cast a spell blocking Violet from Fiona's visions. Now that Fiona can see her daughter's in trouble, she's more than ready to help. But Violet isn't sure she wants help from a mother she's always been told abandoned her, and Fiona can't help Violet until she earns her daughter's trust. Zippy and fun, with an otherworldly hook that's further enhanced by characters with a little magic of their own. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.